The Neverfear

Impossible Creatures #3

by Katherine Rundell

The highly anticipated third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Impossible Creatures series.

A story about endurance, the power of working together, glimourie, and how you do not save anything once: we save the things we love every day.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Animals

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

Katherine Rundell was born in 1987 and grew up in Africa and Europe. In 2008 she was elected a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. Her first book, The Girl Savage, was born of her love of Zimbabwe and her own childhood there; her second, Rooftoppers, was inspired by summers working in Paris and by night-time trespassing on the rooftops of All Souls. She is currently working on her doctorate alongside an adult novel.

Source: Katherine Rundell

Reviews

[Sawyer Czlapinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Random House Children's Books for sending me the arc for The neverfear. This book will make you wonder what will happen next, you’ll gasp, get mad, or sad, and genuinely wanna not put this down, this book makes you feel the magic, so overall I loved this. Just amazing!

[David Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll open by saying that The Neverfear is a book that again reminds us how children’s literature, at its finest, can speak just as powerfully to adults.

We are taken back to the magical fantasy world of Archipelago for the third episode of Katherine Rundell’s latest episode of Impossible Creatures.

The story has her characteristic combination of lyrical prose and thrilling adventure. She has fashioned a story in which courage is neither innate nor effortless. It is something that is forged through uncertainty, loss, and hope. Her narrative, through her characters, shows the conviction that imagination is not an escape from reality but a means of better understanding it more deeply.

Katherine Rundell’s language is luminous without becoming ornamental. I’ve read her two previous novels in this universe and she continues to demonstrate an extraordinary gift for finding fresh metaphors that illuminate both the natural world and the inner lives of her characters. Descriptions of the landscapes are rendered with almost tactile precision; moments of danger are balanced by passages of reflection that give the narrative emotional depth.

What distinguishes The Neverfear from many conventional adventure stories is its moral seriousness. It doesn’t celebrate fearless heroism; rather, the novel explores vulnerability as a source of strength, suggesting that true bravery lies in acting despite fear rather than in its absence. I seem to recall hearing somewhere that you need to know fear to show bravery and courage. It is facing the fear that is the key element for demonstrating these qualities.

The relationships between the central characters (Christopher and Anya, Nighthand and Irian) are equally compelling, shaped by loyalty, sacrifice, and a profound sense of mutual responsibility.

Although the opening chapters ask readers to surrender themselves to an unfamiliar world, Katherine Rundell rewards that trust with a narrative that grows steadily richer and deeper.

Criticisms? The only thing I would say is that as the series progresses, there doesn’t seem to be an overall campaign plot moving the story onward. Each instalment seems like a separate episode in the Archipelago rather than a step forward in an overall saga. That being said, the reader does need to be familiar with the previous instalments as the characters are developed as the series progresses and references are made to previous events.

The final movements in the story are exhilarating and deeply moving, leaving an emotional afterglow that lingers beyond the final page. They also leave unanswered questions, hopefully to be resolved in the next instalment…so maybe we are going to get a reveal in the next episode that ties things together.

In summary, The Neverfear is an elegant, humane, and beautifully crafted work that continues to confirm Katherine Rundell as one of the most accomplished writers of contemporary fiction for young (or older!) readers. It’s a joy to read, as are the previous two books. I’ll be looking forward to the next chapter in 2027.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC and chance to read and review The Neverfear. As always, the review is based on my opinions and not influenced by NetGalley or the publisher. It would be good to have the illustrations in the ARC rather than having to refer to the books on my shelf.

[Batya’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rundell transports us back to the magical world of the Archipelago in the 3rd installment of Impossible Creatures. As always, the book is full of adventure and wit, both flatulent and erudite.

While I enjoyed this installment, as with the second book, I found myself wondering what the connection between the books is, as there does not seem to be an overall plot moving the books forward. Though the adventure was fast-paced, and though I truly adore Rundell’s writing, the lack of clear motivation for the plot made it difficult for me to motivate myself to keep reading. The books read more like disconnected adventures in the Archipelago rather than a coherent storyline.

Nonetheless, I’m sure my daughter will enjoy this new installment just as much as the first two, and that we will remain loyal readers for years to come.

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

The Neverfear by Katherine Rundell is the third in the third person-POV middle grade epic fantasy series Impossible Creatures.

Christopher and Anya feel slightly more mature than they did in the last book, but still feel like middle grade protagonists. There is no point where any details felt like it tipped into YA territory and every theme (including grief and failure) is at an age appropriate level for most middle grade readers. As the series continues, I think it is fair to expect it to grow up with its readers at least a little bit, but I don't think it will ever leave middle grade territory.

There are several references to Greek myths, including Hercules and Hippolyta, which is great timing for the release of the Odyssey film directed by Christopher Nolan. While this wouldn't sit next to any Greek myth retellings, it could sit on a display of books that have those references at school libraries. The myths are explained more than classic German fairy tales that are brought up, but not in great detail, creating a kind of middle ground that won't bore readers who are familiar with those stories while not leaving readers who are completely unfamiliar with them in the dark.

As with the previous books, the focus is a lot more on the adventure rather than worldbuilding or characters. Anya and Christopher feel fleshed out, but there isn't a ton of internal monologue and information about them comes up mostly when needed. The young readers who gravitate more towards that classic style will continue to be happy with the series while readers who heavily prefer internal monologue might struggle with this a bit. The distance of the prose itself, both in terms of how much we see of the characters’ interiority and how much the reader is held back in general, would serve a classroom setting well to showcase the pros and cons of different writing styles and why authors might pick one over the others.

I would recommend this to young readers who love big adventure stories and educators looking for different styles of books to put in their classroom libraries

[Vonprice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy from NetGalley

Absolutely brilliant 3rd book in a top quality middle grade fantasy series.
I wrote my review on my blog here: https://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home...

[Snarhooked · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Neverfear is the third in Katherine Rundell's Impossible Creatures series. It's set in world where the creatures of myth and legend hid themselves away from the majority of the human race in order to protect themselves. They live on or around the islands of The Archipelago. Some species generally stay on their own island (e.g. sphinxes) whereas others are more widespread (e.g. ratoskans which are horned squirrels). Many of them have the ability to talk or otherwise communicate with humans.

The first book followed Christopher as he stumbled into the realm of the Impossible Creatures from our own world. His natural affinity with animals drew him to protect them and he worked alongside Mal, native to the islands, to achieve that.

The Poisoned King introduced Anya as a reluctant princess in trouble. Christopher helped her with her issues while she helped him with the issue of dying dragons. This had called him back from his life in the regular world.

The Neverfear starts with Anya and Christopher on the Islet of Glimt. They are there as the guests of the part-nereid scholar Irian and her beau, the berserker Nighthand, studying the lore and creatures of the Archipelago. Irian is renowned for her knowledge and creatures often travel to Glimt for help. Christopher has maintained his natural affinity for all creatures and discovers an amazing new ability at the start of the story.

However, all is not well in the Archipelago. There are bandits roaming the islands, leaving death and catastrophe in their wake. The Immortal is brought to Glimt for safety and Nighthand's protection. When this leaves him unable to leave the islet, Anya and Christopher offer to accompany Irian on a trip, along with Ratwin and Jacques. This allows one of them to be kidnapped and the others are set a series of seemingly impossible tasks to secure their friend's release.

These tasks allow us to explore more of the islands and the creatures and people which live there. I really enjoy Katherine Rundell's turn of phrase and there are gorgeous lines in this book. Once I realised what the theme of this book was I was able to spot the clues about what was happening. I'm not sure many of the intended audience of younger readers will be familiar enough to spot the clues until later but hopefully they will be encouraged to learn more.

For me, the first book is still the standout in this series. I wasn't such a fan of Anya or of the plot in The Poisoned King, although the endings of the short chapters did make me want to keep reading. I struggled a little with that in The Neverfear. There was an overarching theme and plot but it read in a disconnected fashion. Despite the strict timeline they were on, there was a gulf between the group off on their adventures and the scenes with the kidnap victim. Even knowing that the author is prepared to kill off characters in this series I never truly felt they were in peril.

One part that felt a bit off was the revelation about Nighthand's previous actions and the reaction to them in the present. I felt a lot of sympathy for the character he had wronged and felt that his actions were not treated as seriously as they should have been. It's clear the others, such as Irian, had no idea of his past behaviour. Despite that, Irian seems to brush it off only saying that she 'did not forgive, nor excuse it - it was not hers to forgive.' Surely if you discover your partner has behaved in such a way you would at least have a moment of reassessing them.

I wish there had been a few more hints about what is to come in the rest of the series, something to encourage me to pick up the next book. Likewise, a summary of the events of previous books at the start would have been helpful. There were a couple of characters that I struggled to place from their names alone. I also think a few more descriptions of the creatures could be useful. The published edition will contain the illustrated bestiary that was missing from my eARC. But it would have been nice to have some descriptions built into the text rather than needing to pause to find out what a creature looks like.

Overall, it's generally a decent story with some sections and some lines I very much enjoyed even if it wasn't as engaging as I would have liked.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the eARC.

[Tracy Lander · Rating 5 out of 5]

he third in the |Impossible Creatures series. Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Childrens books for the ecopy to read early.

Christopher and Anya are on the Isle of Glimt with Nighthand and Irian.
One morning after helping a unicorn with a foal he stroked the foals muzzle and something odd happened, he felt a flash of animal joy radiate through him. What was this odd thing? It made him feel very ill - sick.
They have to help with the Midsummer Feast preparations, so Christopher needs to clean up.
On another island called Arno though there were no celebrations there was murder. |Masked attackers worked there way through the square. And there was a tiger, a tiger that appeared from a mirror and took an old man from the captive villagers then returned to the mirror. At this point, one of the masked men spotted another boat offshore.
It belonged to the pirate Vigo Nex, Nex and his men leave quickly - they don't want trouble with these men. Vigo decides not to go to the Gardai but to Nighthand.
Nighthand is using the Midsummer Feast as a cover for something special, but can he do it? He's also cooking some very odd dishes!
That is until Vigo Nex appears. He brings news that evil is around. And proceeds to tell Nighthand about the men and the Tiger. At the feast Nighthand is just about to say something when Anya shouts as a Behemoth comes up from the sea onto the lawn. Christopher feels that flash of light again - as with the unicorn - but he can't hold it. Nighthand lassoes the behemoth. When Nex leaves he tells Nighthand to up the security of the Island.
A woman is watching the island of Glimt, Carla Venasque knows all about Nighthand and Irian and the children. She tells a man with a crew of masked men that she knows where Nighthand is.
The Island of Glimt is locked down. Anya's father Argus has found a defence for the island. A plant. When a boat approaches it has on board Teren ,the new immortal child and his mother Seren, and Belhib - a sphinx - who has journeyed with them for their safety. Seren brings news of her father's death - from a tiger, led by masked men. She wants to leave Teren (whom Nighthand has to protect) and travel to her mother.
The plant around Glimt upsets the leader of the masked men. He has to find an antidote.
Irian and the children are to travel with Ratwin, Nighthand's righthand ratatoska on the Neverfear, across to the City of Scholars to see The Flying Senate.
When they get there Irian says they are late and she knows a short cut.... a long black boat comes alongside them and a tall woman with black hair gives an order...masked men get off and block their way. Irian tries an alley...but they are stuck. The men and the woman take Irian and leave the children.
The children and Ratwin are delivered a ransom note...one that says not to tell the Guardai, then another is delivered not to tell Nighthand. The note says they must meet three demands...each will be delivered when the previous one is complete.

The book follows the children, Ratwin, and Jacques the dragon as they attempt to complete the challenges. But what exactly are they and why do they want these things. We continue to meet those we have met before throughout the book.
Fabulous continuation of the story.
It is definitely one for those that are confident and resilient reader - 350 pages.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked:
Christopher helps a mother unicorn deliver its distressed baby, but there’s an unexpected result. Somehow, touching the infant imbues Christopher with the ability to receive animals’ thoughts and emotions. It comes in handy at times, such as when controlling an injured behemoth, but it also carries potentially dangerous consequences. It affects him physically and can become overwhelming. Readers know this is a significant ability, and it will impact the story before the problems are resolved.
As the book’s title implies, it’s full of unusual and impossible creatures and characters. Jacques is back, and this tiny dragon with attitude is Christopher’s companion and a source of amusement for readers. Companion might be the wrong word, because Jacques constantly questions decisions and tells the humans how they’re doomed. He also has many flowery instructions for Christopher to write in the dragon’s biography. Manticores, Cerberus, and giants are imposing obstacles, or they assist the characters. The author’s imagination will introduce readers to other creatures that they’ve never heard of. The back of the book contains illustrations and descriptions for many of them.
The plot focuses on Irian’s rescue after being kidnapped by bandits. Christopher and Anya are forced to rescue her on their own, since the kidnappers have forbidden them from telling Nighthand, her husband. This restriction enhances the conflict because Nighthand is a berserker and formidable warrior. Christopher and Anya are ordered to obtain three objects that were once part of Hercules’s thirteen labors. They question why the kidnappers want these three specific items and wonder if something larger is happening. The Immortal was an important character in the first book but was absent from the second. The Immortal is reborn as a young boy, and his presence complicates the conflict. A new antagonist, Astor Morax, is introduced, and his evil plans will continue into the next book.
What didn’t work as well:
The plot mostly follows Christopher and Anya, so readers might want to know more about the other characters. However, the author saves a surprise about Anya for later in the book, although astute readers will suspect it. Also, it would be nice to have the illustrations of creatures within the story instead of grouping them at the end.
The final verdict:
Lovers of adventure and uncommon beasts will enjoy this book. Serious dangers threaten this world, and the events come to a dramatic climax, or two. I highly recommend you try this book for yourself, and further, I suggest you start with the first book in the series.

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review

MAPS!

I'm going to start a petition that means if an author writes a series and there's significant time between releases, there should be a page just reminding the reader of what happened in the previous book because I'd all but forgotten everything that had happened in the series so far.

Having said that, I immediately felt taken in by this book, the characters, the magical animals, that it didn't necessarily matter whether I remembered everything that had come before.

I didn't particularly enjoy the first book. It's was okay but it didn't feel like anything new. But the second book I really liked.

Once again, the little dragon Jacques is my favourite character. He's so witty and funny and rude and outspoken and I just love him.

This series has got better and better and I can see this being a future children's classic.

I could see this as a TV series or film series. It's got a similar filmic quality that Narnia has.

There's magic and dragons and sphinxes and chimeras and centaurs and all manner of wonderful magical creatures that are wonderful.

It's got quite a lot of chapters and they're all relatively short which I like. It helps add to the fast paced nature of the story and helps it go by really quickly.

I read that Katherine plans this to be a series of five books so we've got at least two more which is exciting. Like I said, I didn't overly like the first one but I enjoyed the second. And then this one. So by the time we get to the fifth book it should be really thrilling.

It's not an overly long book but nor is it really short, but it is enjoyable and so easy to lose yourself in that it zooms by and I read it in one night.

I really enjoyed the link between Christopher and the animals. It's a subplot that has gone through the series but it's explored more in this one which was relaly good.

It had a different tone to it than the others but I can't quite put my finger on it. It felt a bit flat. The plot is a bit like join the dots. A bit like "he went there then she went there and he did this". And because it's the third book, she doesn't need to do the character development any more and I missed that. It's the characters who make this series and I found them lacking somewhat here. Still very enjoyable and I'd highly recommend it but it was lacking a certain something.

[Isabelle Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC.

The blurb reads: The highly anticipated third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Impossible Creatures series. Join Christopher and Anya on their next daring adventures in the magical Archipelago!

It’s the Midsummer Feast on the Islet of Glimt, and on this magical moonlit evening, the word on everyone’s lips is bandits. Reports of masked men burning villages are spreading throughout the Archipelago, but worse is still to come: Christopher and Anya are ambushed and one of the people closest to them is put in terrible danger.

Now Christopher must face fearsome giants, win a daring race, and outwit deadly enemies, all to save the people he loves most...

I enjoyed this book!! While I didn't love it as much as the previous books in the series, it was so much fun getting to step back into the world of the Archipelago! I love all of the new creatures that've been introduced in this novel, as well as the new villains. (You also get some chapters from the villains' POV, which I loved!!) Christopher's new ability was fascinating to read about as well. I did feel a bit like this book was more lacking in terms of character development than the previous books though. Though I feel like this might be because most of the character development has already happened in the previous two books. But all in all, it was still a wonderful read full of humor and heart! I especially loved what Ratwin said about the Neverfear! Four out of five stars from me!

[Rachel N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 of the Impossible Creatures series and Christopher and Anya are faced with a series of quests to complete to save the life of the kidnapped Irian. A new and dangerous opponent and his group of bandits are terrorising creatures everywhere, and it is up to them to discover what he’s trying to achieve and stop him.

This is children’s literature at its absolute best. The story is full of adventure, challenge, bravery, resilience, friendship, all the things that have featured in the old favourites. There are so many influences to be found here, from Greek mythology to C S Lewis, but it is never derivative and Rundell manages to balance modernity with being old fashioned in the best possible way. This series of books never talks down to children, and instead gives them an exciting story, lots of humour and characters to really root for.

I have to admit that I find a lot of newer children’s books to be very lightweight and uninspiring but this series is destined to become a classic. This one can be read as a standalone but I’d certainly recommend going back to the start and really getting immersed in the magical stories. Roll on book 4!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

[Sara Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stakes are higher than ever as we return to the Archipelago with Anya and Christopher and their assortment of magical friends!

When Irian is kidnapped and Teren threatened Anya and Christopher must team up with friends old and new to complete the labors of Hercules to free her. Along the way they discover there is a new villain whose henchmen have been bringing destruction and death to numerous islands. They must use their wits and emerging abilities to overcome this evil and save Irian before its too late!

I loved all the new creatures we got to meet! The illustrations and backstories for them are so much fun! The stakes are higher than ever but the magical creatures merely assist the children and help them to grow. I like that the series has become a little darker, more mature, as it continues.

Christopher’s new power was something I hadnt seen before in any fantasy series, so that was neat. Also the reveal that Anya was part Berserker. It was nice to see how their friendship has progressed and their trust in each other has deepened.

I thought this would be the final book in the series but it looks like there will be another. I will be awaiting news!

[Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book in this series has left me with one regret, that I did not have this book when I was a child looking to turn the pages on a great adventure. Like the previous two book, we rejoin Christopher as he journeys back to the archipelago for another visit, new exploits and more magical creatures. Anya and Christopher face a new villain in this volume (and we even get some pov chapters from them). There is plenty of action, more world building, and, of course, superb illustrations. Though this plot is somewhat contained to this book, I would suggest reading the series in order, since so much character development and world building was established through the prior two books. This was definitely an enjoyable third visit to the Impossible Creatures series and its world and I look forward to returning for even more adventures, and magical bestiary additions. (4.5/5)
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Children's, Knopf Books for Young Readers) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

[Sue Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Katherine you have done it again! The Neverfear is everything it should be and more. If you haven’t read the first two books in the Impossible Creatures series then go and do so, they are brilliant. This book follows on so seamlessly from the first two and the adventures start straight away.
Christopher and Anya are back and still looking after all the creatures on the Islet of Glimt but are charged with travelling to the City of Scholars to seek council from the Flying Senate accompanied by Ratwin and Jacques. They travel on the ship, the Neverfear and are challenged to complete three Herculean tasks after the kidnapping of their friend Irian.
This book moves very quickly and draws the reader straight back into the story. Katherine certainly knows just how to entertain her audience. Her characters are so real and it is so easy to get invested in them. They are so interesting and fun that their stories leap out of the page and into the mind and become a part of you. These books can be loved at any age from about 8 onwards, they are a delight for adults and children alike. Out at the end of July, make sure you get a copy. It is so worth it.

[Constant_reader_UK · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love this series, it is so magical and fantastical and with a sense or simplicity that appeal to both children and adults.

adventure awaits again in the archipelago. in Neverfear we see the children in a race against time to save a loved one. hopping from island to island in a series of death defying tasks and tests to obtain items to pay the ransom of a kidnapping. all whilst trying to save the archipelago from a new danger.

just a couple of criticisms
1. one I have seen in other reviews; each book seems to be its own self contained story with no common foe from one book to the next.
2. I get that this is a children's book but I'm a firm believer that a series should keep it's original audience in mind. what I mean by this is that the original readers of book 1 are a couple of years older now so the tone and content should evolve in line with this; Harry Potter is case and point

despite these though, this is a fantastic series, one that i will follow to the end. roll on the next one

[Kayla Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing, adventurous, fantastical book for the Impossible Creatures series! This is the third book in the series, following Christopher Forrester, who is an outerlander and protector of the secret and magical land of the Archipelago. I love the characters and creatures in these books. This book features many of the same characters as the first two books and includes some new magical creatures. It does get a little bit more dark than the previous two books, as Christopher and Anya set out on their quest to save a loved one and the rest of the Archipelago from a violent, dangerous group of bandits. But the hope and the goodness of the main cast of characters is still present and fighting for the good of all! I highly recommend this book to adults and children (middle grade readers and up). If you haven’t read any of the Impossible Creatures series, this is one that you’ll want to read in order, as the characters and plot build up throughout the books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for an early reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Claire Smith-Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

The neverfear
This series keeps getting better and better with each book. It's chocked full of adventure, amazing creatures and friendship. I get lost in the writing as it's so engaging and the world is so vivid and alive. The story is enchanting and you can't help but be sucked in. The characters are really startinf to come into their own in this book, Christopher is learning new skills and connections and Anya is discovering hidden depths.

There's bravery and fierceness, charm and strength from all the characters. And still I adore Jacques and his mannerisms.

There's plenty of familiar faces and settings but we also get to discover more new friends, creatures and locations from across the archipelago. All in all I raced through this fast paced story and now I'm bereft to wait another year for the next installment of my favourite reading addiction!

Perfect for those who love
Adventures
Found family
Mythical creatures
Trials and tasks
Resilience
Race against time
High stakes

Thank you for the author, Bloomsbury and Netgalley for my copy.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think these books will go down in history as modern day children’s classics and it is so well deserved.

The series of books so far has been fantastic and each one highly anticipated. The Neverfear was another great follow up, after the Poisoned King (which was one of my favourites), I couldn’t wait for this one so I eagerly and easily devoured it in a matter of days.

The pacing is so great and by now, we’ve really come to love our characters and familiar faces. From the feisty Jacques to loyal Ratatoska’s, there’s so much in this book to love. The sense of loyalty and found family is so heartwarming and I’ve really grown to love the set of characters we’ve been introduced to. This one was a a super exciting read, with plenty going on and all the action you could need to keep you reading.

What can I say except roll on book 4!!

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Rundell does it again! I cannot say enough about this series and the genius of Katherine Rundell to create such a sweeping and magical world!

The Neverfear is another glorious chapter in the story of Christopher, Anya, Nighthand, Irian, and their crew of Impossible Creatures. Giving Ratwin and Jacques a more prominent place in this story made for a tale full of even more cheeky humor and silly sayings.

The tale follows two storylines that collide to create an epic ending to this portion of the story. Christopher and Anya are given a chance to really discover who they are and what they can do, as they go head to head with a full new cast of villains and nefarious creatures. We also see a more tender side of Nighthand as he embraces fear in his love for Irian.

This whole series is one that I will come back to time and time again and recommend to any readers looking for an adventure full of wit, humor, heartbreak, sacrifice, bravery, and infinite love.

#NetGalley #TheNeverFear #KatherineRundell

[Diana of Shelved by Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Neverfear cements the Impossible Creatures series as one of my top fantasy series of all time. The messages of love and sacrifice are second only to C.S. Lewis, and the series speaks to adults as much as children, just like the Narnia series.

Christopher and Anya are teaming up again: to save someone they love, to protect the Immortal, and to befriend more impossible creatures. Rundell again takes the reader through a rollercoaster of emotions as the two journey with Ratwin the ratatoska and Jacques the tiny-in-size-only dragon throughout the Archipelago. With Christopher's growing connection to animals and a question as to whether the villain has actually been conquered, readers will eagerly await Book 4 to see where Christopher and Anya journey next.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital review copy.

[Shahnaz Raza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impossible Creatures: The Neverfear is a gripping third instalment in the series, packed with adventure and tension. Christopher and Anya’s many side quests and challenges keep you on the edge of your seat as they embark on a rescue mission, sailing aboard the Neverfear to recover three precious treasures demanded by the antagonist.

The story is full of unexpected twists and turns, with strong character development, deepening friendships, and plenty of encounters with impossible creatures. Christopher’s growing understanding of his own abilities adds an extra layer of intrigue, and the ending delivers a satisfying conclusion.

An exciting, imaginative, and thoroughly enjoyable read — highly recommended.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Multiple times when I was reading I had to stop to wonder at the depth of Rundell's imagination, or the turns of phrase that were used, or just to laugh out loud. This is my favorite series. I adore the characters. There are really hard lessons that they learn. They continue to grow and change, including the adults.

I read a pre-pub edition that was only readable on my phone. The beautiful illustrations are such a part of the book that they do not release one that can be read on Kindle or e-readers.

I highly recommend this book to mature middle grade readers and above. Rundell is not afraid to kill off important characters and your child would have to be ready for that. Or is it a safe way to lose someone?

[Birdie.Recommends · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third installment in the Impossible Creatures series, The Neverfear unfortunately didn’t captivate me in the same way the first two books did.

One of the things I loved about the first two books was the writing. They were smart, imaginative, and never felt dumbed down for a middle-school audience. This one, however, leaned heavily into made-up words and intentional mispronunciations by one of the characters. While I understand the creative choice, I found it distracting and, ultimately, it took away from the story for me.

I still love the world Katherine Rundell has created, and I’m glad I continued with the series, but this installment just didn’t have the same magic as the first two.

[Waverli Almand · Rating 5 out of 5]

DRC via Edelweiss.

Nothing less than 5 stars for my favorite middlegrade series! Katherine Rundell has once again written a story that is wildly entertaining for kids & adults alike.

This 3rd installment incorporates Greek mythology a bit more heavily than the first two, and I enjoyed reading how it interacted with the general lore of Glimouria. The characters are still perfectly strange and lovable, and Rundell’s descriptions are always clever and pithy. Anya remains my favorite, and her character development was very cool to see in this one. Can’t wait to see what she and Christopher get up to in the next book!

[Farah G · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Midsummer Feast on the Islet of Glimt lacks the usual celebratory atmosphere, because everyone is worried about the fact that strange things are happening - including the fear of bandit attacks.

Things go from bad to worse when Christopher and Anya find that they must undertake a dangerous expedition on the ship Neverfear to rescue their loved ones from peril.

Full of bravery and daring, featuring fantastic characters and creatures, this latest book in the series richly delivers on the expectations of Rundell's fans.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third installment and Rundell is simply killing it with the loads of creativity heaped into a magical story of creatures and quests featuring Christopher and Anya on the Isle of Glimt in the archipelago. A villain has appeared and wants to take away a precious but vulnerable person close to them and they must avenge the bandits and protect all that they know and love.

The illustrated pages bring life to the creatures including the newborn unicorn born in the first few pages to the behemoths that move around the island.

It's the best kind of quest story with danger and intrigue and a boy hero. Delightfully magical!

[Neil M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impossible Creatures is mine and my daughter's favourite fantasy series, we both absolutely loved the first two books and they’ve been reread several times. We were so excited to see the third book coming out, and I'm happy to report it's also absolutely brilliant.

They are everything you could want in YA fantasy books - the main characters are interesting, likeable, and the rapport between them is genuinely sweet. The creatures can be so funny and loveable (Ratwin in particular for me, Koo for my daughter), the baddies are intimidating, the stories have good twists, and the setting is rich and varied.

We can't wait for number 4!

[Maggie Timlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Return to the Magic of the Glimouria Archipelago

Christopher and Anya are back on a great adventure. In tis story they are trying to save a friend who has been kidnapped by sinister forces and they have to carry out really tough tasks. I won’t say too much as this is the third in a series but it is sooo good. I really love the magic and the world and all the characters. If you need a new series to get into, then pick this one. You will not be disappointed. It is simply magic!!!

Thank you to the publisher for a review copy of this book.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Neverfear
by Katherine Rundell
This story shows the wonderful world building of the author. She uses this to show the young reader the responsibility we have for nature, and the world. She develops the world to show wonder and majesty of the historical mythology. I found it an easy read that will be great for latter elementary education. The pictures help add to the presentation of the book making it more appealing.

[Robin Augustine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rundell keeps the magic of the series going in the third installment. Excellent writing and storytelling. I was a little surprised by the use of damn and arse a couple times so just a warning for the younger of the kids reading this. Thanks to #netgalley for the arc, my son and I can’t wait to also get our pre-ordered copy from our local indie.